Charles Beach
| Surname | Beach |
| Given Name | Charles |
| Born | 5 May 1908 |
| Died | 6 Jan 1954 |
| Country | United States |
| Category | Military-Ground |
| Gender | Male |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseCharles Edmund Beach was born in Cincinnati, Ohio?, United State in 1908. Nicknamed "Old Ranger", Lieutenant Colonel Beach was made the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), more popularly known by the unit's unofficial nickname "Merrill's Marauders". As a part of the unit's K Force, Beach led the battalion through the dense jungles of northern Burma and successfully took control of Myitkyina and its surroundings, and like so many others of 5307th, he suffered from various diseases after spending an extended time in the jungle. He was awarded the Silver Star medal with oak leaf cluster for his WW2 achievements. After the war, he became a police officer. He committed suicide in Newark, Ohio in 1954 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in northern Virginia, United States.
ww2dbaseSources:
Gavin Mortimer, Merrill's Marauders
specialforcesroh.com
Last Major Revision: Jan 2024
Charles Beach Interactive Map
Charles Beach Timeline
| 5 May 1908 | Charles Beach was born in Cincinnati, Ohio​, United States. |
| 28 Sep 1935 | Charles Beach married Bernice Louise Krueger. |
| 6 Mar 1944 | Louis Mountbatten arrived at Taihpa, Burma by transport aircraft escorted by 16 fighters to inspect Joseph Stilwell's headquarters; Stilwell privately complained that Mountbatten had used enough fuel on this trip for Stilwell to mount an offensive. Mountbatten would also visit the Walawbum battlefield 25 kilometers to the south. On the front lines, the 2nd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) arrived at Wesu Ga early in the morning. Colonel Charles Hunter, liaison officer Colonel Chun Lee, and a small group traveled north to make contact with was meeting with Colonel Rothwell Brown of the joint American-Chinese 1st Provisional Tank Group to possibly coordinate an attack on Japanese positions near Walawbum, but they could not locate the Chinese unit. On the same day, the Japanese launched several frontal attacks across the Numpyek River near Walawbum. 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)'s Orange Combat Team halted the attacks, inflicting heavy casualties while suffering only a small amount itself. At about 2230 hours, as the Japanese halted the attacks and quietly sent litter bearers to carry away the wounded, Frank Merrill ordered Lieutenant Colonel Charles Beach to withdraw the Orange Combat Team, intending for the Chinese 38th Division to eliminate the remaining Japanese. |
| 24 Mar 1944 | Troops of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) fought off a Japanese attack near the Mogaung River in Burma, advanced, and reached the village of Ngagahtawng. In the same area, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Beach of 3rd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) ordered the intelligence and reconnaissance platoon, led by Lieutenant Logan Weston to set up roadblock at Poakum, 7 miles north of Kamaing. He also ordered a rifle platoon under Lieutenant Warren Smith of K Company of Orange Combat Team to setup a roadblock on Warong-Tatbum road. These were to protect 2nd and 3rd Battalions' northeastward withdraw from Manpin. On the same day, Merrill moved his headquarters to the village of Nhpum Ga, which was about 7 miles north of Weston and Smith. |
| 26 Mar 1944 | In Burma, Lieutenant Colonel George McGee, Jr. and the troops of his 2nd Battalion of US 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) departed camp at 1000 hours, and Colonel Charles Hunter followed after all wounded were evacuated by air. McGee arrived at Manpin at 1200 hours, where Hunter ordered McGee to clear a field for a resupply by air. At 1700 hours, McGee departed camp toward Auche while Hunter remained at Manpin, where he was joined with Lieutenant Colonel Charles Beach of the 3rd Battalion to plan on an attack on Kamaing. The attack was overruled by Frank Merrill, who ordered Hunter to withdraw instead. |
| 6 Jan 1954 | Charles Beach committed suicide in Newark, Ohio, United States. |
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